Daniel Conley tops in fund-raising at nearly $1.27m

Other campaigns report progress

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Daniel Conley raised $244,000 last month, bringing the total in his war chest to nearly $1.27 million, according to his campaign.

By Colin A. Young
Globe Correspondent
July 01, 2013

As the dozen candidates in the first open race for the mayor’s office in 30 years raise money to propel their campaigns into the summer, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley continued to set the pace in June, adding about $78,000 more than any other candidate in the crowded field.

Conley raised $244,000 last month, bringing the total in his war chest to nearly $1.27 million, according to his campaign.

The Conley campaign “has raised over half a million dollars in just the last 60 days, showing a strong, deep, and still growing base of support for Dan,” said spokeswoman Samantha Shusterman. “Those contributions came in smaller and larger amounts and from people from every walk of life across Boston.”

Conley raised more than $256,000 in May, the Globe reported.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, first-time candidate John F. Barros, who previously served on the School Committee, picked up $28,000 in June and has about $70,000 in available funds, according to spokesman Matthew Patton.

“In June, we saw a lot of first-time donors, which we see as the campaign growing,” Patton said. “The more people that get involved means more people invested in John Barros becoming mayor, and that is the most important sign for us in the campaign.”

Second to Conley, State Representative Martin J. Walsh reported collecting $165,687 in June from 679 individual donors. Since the start of his campaign, the Dorchester lawmaker has received $474,325 from more than 2,100 donors and currently has $415,816 in cash on hand, according to Walsh spokeswoman Joyce Linehan.

‘There is no absolute standard by which to judge if candidates are encouraged or disappointed by their fund-raising efforts. Money is an important resource, but it is not the only resource.’

“Not only are the numbers strong, but the number of contributions is a sign that we are reaching small-dollar donors, also known as voters,” she said.

A close third, City Councilor Michael P. Ross took in more than $150,000, and has about $538,514 cash on hand, his campaign said.

“We’ve raised $151,315 in June, our third month of raising well over $100,000,” said campaign manager Cayce McCabe. “Mike is one of the only candidates who has consistently raised that amount each month.”

City Councilor John R. Connolly pulled in $149,180 in June, inflating his campaign war chest to just over $660,000, according to his political director, Adam Webster. Connolly has raised $676,890 since the start of the year, Webster said.

“We’re thrilled to have raised over $675,000 this year, and we’re exceeding our fund-raising goals month after month,” said Martha Bixby, a campaign spokeswoman.

City Councilor Rob Consalvo reported raising $144,970 from 805 individual donors last month, almost doubling the $77,000 the campaign raised in May. The June funds give Consalvo a total of $225,784 in cash on hand, according to his campaign.

“We are building momentum, assembling the best field organization in this race, working harder, and we’re seeing the support translated into energy in the neighborhoods and contributions to the campaign,” Consalvo said in a statement. “All across the city, in every neighborhood, we are seeing strong support for our campaign.”

Paul Watanabe, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said it is not surprising that current officeholders have raised more money than other candidates.

“Indeed, the surprise would be if there was a significant falloff in their fund-raising,” he said.

Watanabe added that fund-raising numbers are not the sole indicator of how well a campaign is running.

“There is no absolute standard by which to judge if candidates are encouraged or disappointed by their fund-raising efforts,” he said.

“Money is an important resource, but it is not the only resource.”

Bill Walczak, cofounder of the Codman Square Health Center, raised $54,925 in June and is in the midst of another fund-raising push, said campaign spokesman Wyatt Ronan. Ronan said Walczak has just $130,601 in available funds.

City Councilor at Large Felix G. Arroyo took in $51,775 in June, his campaign reported, boosting his cash on hand to about $153,000.

“We feel good, we feel like we’re on track for where we want to be,” said Arroyo’s campaign manager Clare Kelly. “We have a number of events lined up for July and August so even though some people might check out or go away, we have a number of people who are paying attention and are ready to help the campaign.”

Former state representative Charlotte Golar Richie raised about $87,000 in June, including $75,000 in the last two weeks alone, said her campaign manager Jim McGee. Golar Richie has over $100,000 in cash on hand, McGee said.

Last month, Golar Richie received the endorsement of EMILY’S List, a national political organization for women that could provide a much needed fund-raising boost for her fledgling campaign. Golar Richie is the only woman vying to replace Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

McGee said the campaign’s June total does not include money raised through EMILY’S List, but that those funds would first be counted in July’s monthly total.

EMILY’S List offers access to a network of more 2 million potential donors across the country, which could be crucial for Golar Richie, who lagged far behind most candidates in raising money in the month of May.

City Councilor Charles C. Yancey, Charles L. Clemons Jr., and David James Wyatt did not respond to Globe requests for updated fund-raising numbers.

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